Human Genetic Variation Alters Anthrax Toxin Sensitivity
Martchenko, Candille et al., PNAS
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine show that genetic variation affecting capillary morphogenesis gene 2, or CMG2, dramatically alters toxin sensitivity in humans. In its analysis, the team reports on "a CMG2 single-nucleotide polymorphism occurring frequently in African and European populations [that they found] independently altered toxin uptake." The group goes on to suggest "testing of genomically characterized human cell populations may offer a broadly useful strategy for elucidating effects of genetic variation on infectious disease susceptibility."
The Interaction Itinerary
January 12, 2007
In a paper published this week in PLoS Biology, senior author Tim Gardner and his colleagues attempt to validate the performance of machine learning algorithms on the genome scale using E. coli. The team mapped more than 1,000 interactions in the E. coli transcriptional regulatory network using microarrays. They've made the ensuing expression data available here, and anyone interested in checking out the CLR algorithm they used can download it here.